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cinderblox_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Minor: Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Classism
coolfoolmoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Child abuse, Slavery, Antisemitism, Trafficking, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Self harm, Lesbophobia, and Colonisation
thepurplegiraffe's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those books that I've heard of forever, with most people (myself included) too intimidated by the sheer size of the thing to actually attempt it, and those who have gone on the adventure insisting it's worth it. Happily, I now find myself in the latter group. Most of my knowledge of it came from Wishbone, a couple of mentions of it in other books, and that weird cameo The Count made in Once Upon a Time season 6 (in retrospect now the cameo is even weirder than it was before I really knew who he was... why did they do that... *sigh*) All that to say that after rocketing through the first 150 pages and reaching the end of everything I already knew happened, I simply had to know how there were NINE HUNDRED MORE PAGES and what they could possibly contain. (also I'm seeing people saying it should've been shorter and no. incorrect. I disagree most heartily. you gotta let edmond cook, okay.)
This novel originally being published serially explains so much, honestly. He had to keep the people coming back for more, and oh how I wish I could've been a fly on the wall as people discussed this in the 1840s, because it's INSANE. In the best way possible, but insane nonetheless. Dantès really needed to see a therapist, but who needs therapy when there's revenge, am I right?
He's a genius, though, tbh. I'm incredibly impressed. He doesn't even have to enact his own revenge, he just has to move a lil dirt and let the buried secrets reveal themselves. What an icon.
That's the thing that kept me hooked, I think. I like Dantès. I want good things for him. And I had to keep going, just on the hope that he'd get something of a happy ending. And, you know, the bandits and pirates and prison escapes and buried treasure and murder and all the DRAMA by golly I couldn't look away! (it's also SO funny? which was such a pleasant surprise, I laughed a LOT) The first part is more action/adventure, and then it switches to an almost Jane Austen-esque societal drama, and I ate 👏 it 👏 up 👏 Every character is important, every character has a part to play, and it's a safe bet to assume every character is actually Dantès in disguise until proven otherwise.
The moral of the story: Don't do bad things. Be nice to people. No matter how deep you bury misdeeds, they will come back to bite you in the butt. Oh, and you can do anything if you have about a gazillion dollars and a costume closet. The world is your oyster.
And also, "wait and hope." That's arguably the most important thing you're supposed to take away. (Idk I think adding "find buried treasure" to my life plan is also a theme, but. Maybe that's just me.)
Overall I don't think I'll ever come down from the high of being able to say I've read this, full and unabridged. Huzzah for me. 😂 It's a masterpiece, plain and simple. If I'm honest, I feel pretty confident I'm going to read it again someday. And that I've already found my top book of 2025 because I haven't been able to stop thinking about it in the 48 hours since I finished it, and I doubt it's going to leave my head anytime soon.
The size is more intimidating than it should be, okay? At least give it 150 pages and see how you like it. Or don't. It's your life. Unlike Dantès, I cannot actually move enough money around to alter your subconscious. You're welcome.
Five stars. WHEW was that a ride.
**content warnings for revenge (duh) (if that's something you don't like in books, that's like... 90% of this book so... keep that in mind), suicide (some just considered, some carried out), violence (both threatened and carried out), murder, drug use, some off-page sexual assault-ish stuff and some off-page adultery, and some mild profanity
Moderate: Child death, Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Alcohol
madamenovelist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Antisemitism, and Alcohol
amandabarry95's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Chronic illness, Drug use, Medical content, Lesbophobia, and Classism
olorin85's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Dementia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Child death, Colonisation, and Classism
jo_lzr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I can't give this book 5 stars because I think that Mércédés deserved better! Even though I ship her with Edmond, I get why they can't be together. I just wish that she would have gotten a better ending. Plus, Haydée and Monte Cristo's relationship was very weird. For example, that part near the end, where her love for him is described as the love for a father AND a husband (and a brother). That was weird. Though, it could also be that Haydée has daddy issues.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Lesbophobia
kerrence30's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Racial slurs
random19379's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Classism
wickedgrumpy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War, and Classism